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Posted by: Tim St. Onge
Taking place 245 years ago this month, the Battle of Camden was a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War. Through a series of battlefield maps by different cartographers, we can see how battle lines spelled disaster for American forces, but would also yield lessons to help win the war the following year.
Posted in: 18th century cartography, American History, Military History
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
The Geography and Map Division collections include vibrant nineteenth century maps showcasing brand new American communities and promises of the "good life" to prospective lot or home buyers. This post explores the common themes and fascinating details of these highly artistic maps designed to lure investment.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, American History, City Histories
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
While Amos Doolittle is best known for his accurate scenes of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, his map engravings, capturing the early years of the new independent nation, deserve recognition as well.
Posted in: 18th century cartography, 19th century cartography, American History, Biography
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
Fascinating maps at various scales tell the story of the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, a pivotal moment in the Civil War and the contested fight for control of New Orleans and the Mississippi River.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, American History, Military History
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
The tradition of Shaker cartography is explored through various 19th century maps of Shaker villages.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, American History
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
The Panoramic Maps Collection, one of our most popular collections, features more than a thousand beautifully illustrated “bird’s-eye-view” maps of towns and cities across the United States, Canada, and even some internationally. To celebrate this collection, we are excited to launch View from Above: Exploring the Panoramic Map Collection, an interactive map that makes browsing …
Posted in: 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography, American History, City Histories, Geographic Information Science
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
Soon after the car came, inevitably, car traffic. Since the dawn of the automobile, the wide open road would become less and less wide open as private car ownership came to dominate the American transportation landscape in the early 20th century. While revolutionizing travel for many, the early decades of automobile use were fraught with …
Posted in: 20th century cartography, American History
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer, and with the holiday weekend behind us, millions will be heading to the beaches, mountains, and everywhere in between for seasonal getaways over the next few months. Some of these vacationers will be among the roughly 5 million annual visitors to the natural wonder …
Posted in: 19th century cartography, American History, National Parks
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
There are some maps that, at first look (or second, or one-hundredth), seem to offer more questions than answers. It can surely be said that the map of nationalities in New York City, part of a series of maps from the Tenement House Committee of 1894, is one such curiosity. Looking closer at its historical …
Posted in: 19th century cartography, American History, City Histories